It's the last day of school before Christmas break, and I am thrilled! I wasn't paying attention much today, mainly because I was excited! I already knew what I was going to get for all my friends and family. What? I go shopping for presents on December 24. It's my tradition. This way, I have all month to think of gifts. I know, I'm clever.
We are in the cafeteria, me, Greg, and Layla have lunch together. For the past I don't know how many years Greg has been bugging me to tell him my ideas for gifts, and I never cave in. Last year though, he caught me off guard and I told him what I was getting him. That angered me. So, right now, he is sitting next to me with his knee shaking. He keeps opening his mouth like he wants to say something, but then closes it. Layla turns her head and looks out the window, then her eyes bug out.
"Um, Emily, I don't know what your going to do about gifts this year."
I follow her gaze, expecting something big to be there, but it is just snowing. And not even that much either, just a little flutter.
"It's just snow. If it were coming down in bucket fulls then I'd be worried, but I'm not." She looked at me. "It's going to be a White Christmas," I told her, then watched her relax, but only slightly.
We went on through our day, like that incident at lunch never happened. But I kept seeing Layla, and even Greg, peek at the window for the rest of the day. Although I never would have admitted it, the snow was piling up; and it was getting heavier, not lighter. We had about two hours left of school when the principal came on the loudspeaker.
"Attention, attention students and staff, I have an announcement."
No duh.
"The superintendent has informed all public schools that the students will be leaving the schools in 15 minutes. Please gather all the belongings you will need for the week, report to your homerooms, and have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season."
Great. A blizzard. Greg looked at me and laughed. I almost had a panic attack. There was a blizzard, and now I couldn't even get Christmas presents. I could make them, but it was December 23, and who can make Christmas presents for their mom, dad, brother, grandma, grandpa, three best friends, godmother,godfather, and anyone else I'm forgetting in just two days. And to boot, I could only use what was in my house because there was no way I am getting out of my house in a blizzard. Greg and I hopped on the bus and didn't talk the whole ride home. When we got to our stop, I wished him a Merry Christmas and told him I would call him. I stomped into my house and right up to my room, trying to figure out what to do. Sam came into my room and laughed at me.
"I hope that you have already gotten gifts for us."
He smirked at me.
"Get out of here!" I yelled at him. Then I closed my door and locked it.
I started digging around in my room, trying to find anything. Maybe I could re gift, I thought. Half of the stuff I own I have bought on my own; and even so, half of that I haven't even used. I opened up my closet and started digging through. I found a candle in there that my mom would like, but its moldy. Oh well, she won't notice. Hopefully. I sighed and put that in the garbage. Why did I even have a candle? I shook my head and continued through. After about two hours, I had also found a video of my brother when he was five, and its really embarrassing. He would murder me if I let on that there was still a copy of that video, so I'm just going to keep that for a while. That could be helpful in the future. Mwahaha. I have also found my really really old iPod with Hannah Montana songs, that wouldn't be so helpful in my hunt right now. I have also found a few things that I have been looking for. Like, a few years ago, I couldn't find Layla's birthday present to save my life. And, it was really awesome, in my opinion. Well, guess what came tumbling out of my closet? Yep, her gift. Such an organized person I am. Well, I could just re-wrap it in Christams wrapping paper and then she's done. Sigh. But, that was the last I remember before slowly laying down on my fuzzy teal rug and closing my eyes.
I woke up laying on my floor of my closet. I looked at the clock and saw it was 7:00 p.m. That doesn't make much sense, but in the condition I was in, nothing made much sense. When I went to my desk, I saw a slice of microwave pizza on a plate. I bit into it and sat on my bed. So its almost Christmas Eve and I have made no improvement, except for the fact that I threw away a broken Rubiks cube and fuzzy pink purse along with the candle. I went to turn on my computer to try and look up ideas when I found it wouldn't turn on. Great, so we lost power. I turned my phone on and saw that it was actually 3:00 a.m. That made much more sense. It is Christmas Eve! Of course, my phone started beeping, then turned itself off. Marvelous, it was out of battery. I took a deep breath and continued through my room. But I didn't make much improvement before curling into another ball. When I woke up, my mom was knocking on my door. I opened it slowly. She was standing there with a plate and a sandwich on it. I opened the door wider so she could come in.
"I thought that you would be hungry. There hasn't been much to eat since we lost power, but it has been flickering on and off, so that has to mean something."
She sighed and looked around my room.
"Some Christmas presents you guys are going to get," I said, no enthusiasm whatsoever in my voice.
My mom chuckled a little.
"Just remember sweetie, its the thought that counts."
And with that, my mom left. I ate my sandwich slowly, had a glass of water, and continued on my hunt. Within an hour, I had found gifts for my parents, brother, and grandparents. But, its not like I'd be seeing any of my extended family or friends tomorrow, so I didn't worry that much anymore.
I woke up again to hear Christmas music blasting from the sound speakers downstairs and hear the snow plows out on the streets. I ran to the other side of my room and saw snow plows plowing the streets. I grabbed my wrapped gifts and fluttered down the stairs. My mom and dad were sitting on the couch and my brother was on the love seat across from them. They all had a hot chocolate mug in their hands.
"Well, here's sleeping beauty," my dad said, laughing to himself.
I put my gifts underneath the tree and poured myself a mug of hot chocolate as well.
"I guess the snow has finally stopped," I said.
My brother smiled and said, "Yea."
With that, we all started opening our gifts. My brother loved the stuffed alligator I gave him, and my dad really seemed to enjoy the Donald Trump bobble head. Don't ask why I had one of those. My mom also liked the cookie cutters I found. I was so worried that they would be like, Hooray. Yahoo. No emotion and throw it to the side. But they didn't, and they understood my situation.
"I think these are the best presents ever," my dad said.
I blushed and shrunk down in my seat. When the doorbell rang, I jumped to answer it.
"I wonder who could be at our house today of all days," my brother said as he gathered his loot.
I opened the door and saw Greg standing there, with a small, nicely wrapped gift box in his hand.
"I uh, couldn't wait any longer to give this to you," he said, sticking out his hand awkwardly.
"Come in, come in. We have hot chocolate on the stove," I said, opening the door wider.
We walked down the hall that opened up to our living room with the tree in the middle. My parents all wished Greg a Merry Christmas, then left. Sam poured him a mug of hot chocolate then he left as well.
"Well, uh, Merry Christmas," Greg said.
I opened my gift, expecting a gift card or something, but I lost my breath when I saw what was inside the box. It was a gorgeous locket with a picture of him and me inside.
"Thank you," I managed to murmur. Then, I ran upstairs and grabbed his gift.
As he opened it, I said, "It's not as great as a locket, but I hope you like it."
Greg opened his gift, then smiled at what was inside. I had put a picture of him and me wearing our football jerseys inside a frame. We had our arms around each others shoulders holding up fists to each other.
Greg opened his mouth, then shut it, enjoying the moment.
"Well, I should get going. Thank you, and Merry Christmas."
"Wait, Greg," I called,"Can you help me put on my locket?"
He laughed and clasped it around my neck. I let my hair drop, then turned around to face him. I threw my arms around him, and he wrapped his around me.
"Merry Christmas Greg," I said.
"Merry Christmas," he replied, not letting go.
He finally did, smiled at me, then walked down the hall. I watched him walk down the sidewalk, and just when he thought I wasn't looking, pump his fist into the air.
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Merry Christmas everyone, and a Happy New Year too! Hope you enjoyed this posting, check back soon.
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